The family of a man brutally stabbed to death after a gang of armed men forced their way into his home have spoken of the pain they have endured since his murder.
Lee Clarkson was kicked, punched and stamped on before a teenager fatally stabbed him in the abdomen when they dragged him out of his Bishop Auckland home in December last year.
The 42-year-old tried to drag himself back to the safety of his home but bled to death in the street despite paramedics battling to save his life.
Michael Richardson and a teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were convicted of the callous murder following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Karl Jones was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter while Craig Dent, who had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was found not guilty of murder.
Jurors had heard how the masked gang targeted Mr Clarkson after they were unable to find the person they believed had burgled Michael Richardson’s Tindale Crescent home.
In a statement released following the convictions, the murder victim's family said: “The fact Lee was murdered was bad enough, but these people could have taken responsibility from the day they were arrested, which would have prevented us having to listen to the final moments of Lee’s life at the trial.
"This has been unbearable at times we are broken hearted, and no words can explain the pain and torture that we have gone through.
"There are no words to describe the pain, which we all feel, but we hope that the justice served will hopefully give us some comfort knowing the people responsible for the murder of our Lee can't harm anyone else.”
Jurors had heard how Mr Clarkson had been savagely attacked when the gang failed to find their intended target.
Co-accused Karl Jones was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter while Craig Dent, who had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was found not guilty of murder.
A fifth defendant, Helen Jones was cleared of all charges.
Speaking after the verdicts, Christopher Atkinson, Head of CPS North East’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “It is clear from the evidence in this case that Lee Clarkson was not the intended target of this attack, with the group involved believing that another man at his address had been responsible for a pair of burglaries at one of their homes.
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“When the concealed faces of his attackers appeared outside his home, Mr Clarkson’s first instinct was to warn the other man that he was in immediate danger - an action which undoubtedly aided his escape.
“After failing to catch their intended target, the attackers instead subjected Mr Clarkson to a sustained and savage attack before leaving him, bleeding and fatally wounded, in his front garden. Tragically, Mr Clarkson died of his injuries a short time later.”
Michael Richardson, 52, of Boddy Street, Bishop Auckland; Karl Jones, 45, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland; Craig Dent, 42, of Gray Street, Eldon Lane; and the teenager, were all remanded in custody.
Mr Justice Jacobs adjourned the case until October 11 when they will be sentenced.
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